Apparatus for the manufacture of glass cylinders.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

iNO. 821,478

J PORSTER. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.31.1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

luv enf r PATBNTBD mi 22, 1906.

J. FORSTER. APPARATUS FORv THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS.

APP'CIOATION FILED OUT. 31 1004.

s SHEBTS-SHEBT 2 m, 4%? 51A 9 K),

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J FORSTLA FOR THE MANUFAQTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPARATUS APPLIUATION FILED OOT.31,1904.

6 EHEBTS-SHEET 3.

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Him/M EGWLM wdwwt PATENTED MAY 22, 1906 J. FORSTER APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.31,1904.

6 SHEETS-BEBET 4.

WL t 1185563 (3 Ina entailma. WW I A flMM/%M2q UUO- PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. PORSTER. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.31,1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 UNITED STATES PATENT oration. 4

'JOHNFORSTER, or sr. HELENS. ENGLAND. APPARATUS FOR fr; MANUFACTURE OF GLASS CYLINDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May- 22, 1906 Applicationfiled October 31.1964. fierialNo-23di77fi.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN FonsTER, a subject of the King of England, residing at St.

Helens, county of Lancaster, En land, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus well or vessel which contains the molten glass so that itcan be uniformly rotated within aheating-chamber, the vessel being so supported that the gas-flame or other heating agent can pass around and underneath it. The rotation of the vessel is accomplished by suitable gearing, and the blowpipe, which is lowered into themolten glass in this vessel and.

from which the cylinder depends during the drawing operation, can also be rotated, preferably at the same speed as the vessel. This rotation of the blowpipe is accomplished by mounting the pipe in a rotatable head carried on a frame which is capable of being moved mechanically up and down above the vessel.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a graduated cooling chamber through which the cylinder passes and which can swing out of position while the metal is being put into the vessel. This coolingchamber is mounted at the top-of the inclosmg heating-chamber, so that it surrounds the opening above the vessel. The coolingehamber is preferably arranged so that air under pressure can be admitted through an annular space near the bottom to cause what may be termed a cylinder of air to passup inside the chamber and around the cylinder being drawn, care being taken that this air does not aetuall impinge on the surface of the cylinder. Higherup-say about midway in the chamber-is another annularo pening to admit more cooling-air, and the up er part of the ch amber'is provided with a coi of piping through which a cooling fluid is circulated to further cool the air between it and the cylinderrbein drawn; Thus in the construction describe the cylinder of glasswould be subjected to. three grades of cooling before.- it emerged from the chamber into the atmosphere, although it will of course be understood that the chamber may be arranged to give a greater or a less number of graduations,

of air and that" the coil of pipes may be peiised with; a a

. In order to guide the hlowpipe asi't rotates and keep it central, a clip is provided mounted upon the vertically-nihyable frame, and

this clip may conveniently comprise two hinged members provided with friction rollers which when the members are closed surround. the hlowpi e and keep it in verticalahnement,'wlule alow1n it to rotate freely.

1 r for blowin the cfiinder is supplied to the pipe through hired and flexible tubes, prefthe machine, so that the air is supplied only as the drawing'operation proceeds. Whether the supply is from such a mechanical compressor org as sometimes may be the case,

from ares'ervoir of airstored under pressure it IS convenient to provlde a valve to con- This compressor maybe op-- trol the passage of air to the blowpipe, and this valve may be regulated mechanically as the drawing operation continues. The obj ect of these arrangements for the supply and control of the airis to insure that the cylinder as it is drawn shall be of uniform diameter.

In order that the cylinder of glass when drawn may be quickly and safely brought into a horizontal position for removal, inegh anism is provided conveniently comprising a frame. with bands or clips adapted to embrace the cylinder. This frame can be raised or lowered by gearing-say. by a rack and pinion forming part of the frame of the machine and can be turned so that the drawn cylinder can be embraced by the bands. The frame may then be turned back and moved by gearing, so as to bring the cyle inder into a horizontal osition.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example,- apparatus constructe according to this invention for tion of the arrow 1 inI'lhg. 3. Fig,v 2 is an In elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 4-. Fig. 3 is a plan in section on the line 530f Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is an enlarged 5 section of the graduated cooling-ohamlir,'.

1 5 mounted above it on two pillars C and a.

curved bracket; -C and suitably braced to form a rigid fr aming Supported'above the,

secondary base C is ,an inclosing heating chamber D for. the vessel ;E cnt1uning-;the 2 molten glass, and thlSizVGSSQlflS supported on 1 :a disklF of refractory material upon the, top

.ota short central shaft E1; passing. up throug the'rigid frame and provided with a worm-- l'wheel F rotatable by. means .ofa-worm- 1G 2 0n a transmission-shaftgG; having-a.bevel pinion G engaging abevel-pinionsHon a.

vertical driving-shattu II'. The. vesselcon taining the molten-glass issep'arated: from-its: supporting disk F sa v bybiemks offireclay o E.so that passages. are left beneath itthrough whichthe gas-llames jcanepass Mounted in bearings J upon thebottomgporf tion of the framingis a main driving sh'aft J,

geared to the" vertical shaft-Hr Agradue- 3 5 at-ed cooling-chamber K-is mounted cent-rally over the mouth of the vessel E'and surrounds; the. opening in the. casingthrpuglp which thecylindenot glass is drawn.

The.cooling-chamber K, as shown in Fig;

40 5, comprises an outer casing K. with an-inter- =nal spiral coil of pipe K, supplied wrtlrcoollng fluid. (oolmga|r is mtrod'uccd'to an annular conduit 1Q, formed-round the casing under thecoil, and thence passes into a second .lower annular conduit K. The upper (and lower conduits are provided with annular orifices K K", respectively, through which cylinden if cooling-air are forced up inside the chamber and around the cylinder being drawn. If desired. as shown indotted lines -in Fig. 5, hirther annular conduits and orifices may be added to the chamber and the cooling-cod may be dmpensedu-wth.

Guided by the two pillars and the ver- 5 5 tical driving-shaft H is a eross-fran'ie li,.hav. ing long screwed rods L attached to it, which pass up through nuts M or'intornally-tbreaded bushes inan upper fixed triangular frame M. These bushes are provided with bevel- 6o pinions M driven through bevel-pinions N on transinission-shaits N from a bevel-pinionl-l on the vertical driv ng-shaft H, a clutch O'being provided controlled throughrods 0 from a lever 0 near the base of the Sq machine, so that through the gear and the long screwed rods L the. movable crossfrarne L may be raised or lowered and its mo tionstartedor stopped quickly.

Mounted centrally upon the movable cross-frame L is a rotatable-headP, adapted to engage with the upper end Fol the blowpipe P, as shownindetail in Fig. 6. The head is secured to the-blowpipeby two hinged clips l/V,"w hioh engage abutmentson the head and pipe, anZair-tight jointbeing secured by the use of"-semicylindrical rubberr washers VV. This head; lSrQdIlVG-II' by a worm-wheel Q?" through a war-mo transmission-shaft Q, v and bevel-pinionzQf from a' bevel-pinion H? on the vertical shaftH; the speed of-rotation 8o ofthe head being the same as that of the'ves- 'sel E, holdingtlie; molten glass. Toth'e'undenside ofithe. movable cross-frame L i s at-- I tached a bracket :L bearing at its lowerend a hinged, guide-olipt-Rii having friotion rollers '85 R, which when the-clip isclosed encircle the b'lowpipje. Hand keep it; in vertical alinement as it =1r0tittes-,-:asillustrated in detail in'Fig: .7;

freelyiupand fdown ins'thercooling-chamber Ki .90 Air isfe'd-,zthrouglr 'the rotating ,headz'to the upper end oftthe'rblowpipe by means of hired and flexible pipes PF; theilatten assingovera: pulleyP?at theuppeiaportiono the:mach'\ne. Thesepipes are connected'jth'rou h aregulafi- 9 5 ing ralve;P ,with;thercylinderi'o aamechanical: compressorsand- .ithewalve i is rovidedu withv oneror more. grooved-pulleys round which passes a weighted: cord; L 5 attached toie movingcross-frarne Ll and guided by pul- I oo leys L secured to the top frame. :i

' The, 1' ulleys LP? -'-o1i= the valve-spindle 5 upon which't eyare mountedare als'oconneotedto the .piston S of the compressor '8; so that the piston and the valve are automaticallymoved r o 5 to supplyandcontrol the fliBl'iJO the blowpiple P, according" to the position ofrtheifrarner thus adjusting the air-supply to-theiengthof i the cylinder being drawm.

The space in' the compressor-cylinder S'be- 1 1o neath the piston S is preferably connected by a branch pipe Stoanother'p pe T which conveys air. from a separate 'sourceunder pressure to the graduated cool'n' chamber K". This branch ipipe is;controlle'(by a cock 1 r 5 or hand-lever T' 'and. .is.-,used as hereinafter-described to admitisu plementary-air'+?=-that=is.-- to say, air indpengentofthe movement'rof the compressor S -to the cylinder-vat certain stages of.its'-nianufacture-.'- I r20 The swinging .frame U for the removal of the cylinder is conveniently =mounted- 'on' a 1 vertical support U nearvone-ofathe guide pillars and can be moved up and-down on its 1 support by means'of a rack U and pinion U .1 2 5 The frame is provided with hinged bandsU, lined with suitable material andsecured by clips U and can be turned by gearing U into a horizontal position,in addition to swinging round its vertical support as a center. w

flashers The operation of the machine is asfollows: The enlarged end of a prepared blowing-pipe l? is furnished with suflicient molten glass to form a globe at the end in the ordinary man" cooling-chamber K, so that the glass at its" end comes into contact with the lass in the vessel E; The upper end of the lowpipe P is attached to the rotating head P and its lower portion embraced and guided by the clip it. The shaft H and gear for rotating the vessel E and the head P is now put into operation, and the glass on the 'blowpipe P and in the vessel E quickly becomes homogeneous and of equal temperature. The liftingor drawing gear is then started and the regulating-valve 1? opened to allow the air under pressure to pass through the blow-pipe P into the body oi metal at the end until it is blown to the diameter required. At this stae the operation of the air-valve l? is preferably manually controlled and supple- ..mentary air admitted through cock T until the cone-shaped cylinder end is formed and set; but as the drawing continues the gear is used, so that the continued admission of air is automatically controlled to keep the cylin: der of uniform diameter is passes through the cooling-chamber K. When the cylinder is drawn to its desired length, the admission of air is stopped and an escape-cock opened,

so that the cylinder is subjected only to at mospheric pressure. The lifting and rotating 18 then. continued until the glass joining the bottom of the cylinder and the molten metal in the vessel becomes merely a thin cord, which can be readily severed. After severing the connection the raising mechanism is reversed until the lower dome end comes within. the zone of heat, when, by admitt mg the before-mentioned supplementary air a d again rotating, the dome 1s extended and rormed into proper thickness. The mechanism is then again. reversed, the airsupply stopped, and a hole made through the center of the dome by applying a piece of hot natal or in some other convenient way. On lowering the cylinder till the dome x at within the zone of heat and continuing llltl rotation he dome falls back into cylindrical form, and the cylinder can be lifted clear of the (ooilug-chamber finished.

instead of manipulating the dome end, as above described, after having stopped the lilting-gear and opened the interior of the cylilidor to the atmosphere by turning the es capo-cock the rotation may be continued and the cylinder out at the top of the coolingchamber, the lower portion boin allowed to fall back into the vessel of molten glass for later on. I W hen the cylinder has been raised clear of the cooling-chamber and the mechanism. stopped, the swinging arm 0 is brought into position and the cylinder embraced by the bands U The blowpipe P is released from its head 1? and centering-guide R and the cylinder in the frame U moved clear of the machine and brought toa horizontal position, when afterlowering it can be removed for cutting into lengths, splitting, and annealing in the usual way.

While one cylinder is being finished, as above described, another operator may be preparing the next -blowpip e ready for the drawing of another cylinden Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, when the inachine is designed to deal with smaller or shorter cylinders the moving frame maybe supported on one standard V instead of using the triangular frame, which is convenient when dealing with cylinders of large diameter and length, and in other respects it will be understood that details of contruction of the machine and apparatus may be' 'varied without departing from the spirit of this invention. The rotation of the vessel containing the molten. glass within the heated chamber insures that all the glass in the vessel shall be of a uniform temperature and properly fined, all the exterior exposed parts of sides and bottom of the vessel being brought under the influence of the gas-flame or other heating agent. The rotation of the blowpipe at the same speed as that of the vessel tends to produce the cylinder in correct shape and free from indentations, corrugations, waves, lines, or vanes and varying thicknesses. This result is further aided by the centeringguide for the bloyvpipe and the mechanismemployed to supply the air. Further advantages of this invention are that therotating cylinder may have its lower end finished cylindricallyand without waste and that the cylinder as it emerges through the graduated cooling-chamber is uniformly and gradually cooled, unequal contraction and consequent weakness in the walls of the cylinderbeing thus avoided, While when finished it can be safely handled and de osited by means of the embracing-bands of t e removal-frame.

A machine according to this invention may be driven from any convenient source of power, or it may be hand-driven. In either case the gearing may be arranged to give various speeds, so that cylinders of. different thicknesses can be obtained. i

l t will of course be understood that although the invenion has been described with refer ence to the drawing of cylinders of glass, yet it may be used in the manufacture of other glass articles.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to scene by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination o a heating-chamber, a vessel containing' a reserve of molten glass within the chamber, a blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpipe together aboutavertical axis, means for raising and lowering the pipe relatively to the vessel and means for supplying air to the blowpipe.

2. In apparatus for drawing glass the-coon bination of a heating-chamber, a vessel con-- taining a reserve of molten glass within the chamber, a blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpipe together about a vertical axis, means for raising andlowering the piperelatively to the vessel means for supplying air to the blowpipe, and means for maintaining the blowpipe in vertical alinement.

3. In ap aratus for drawing glass the combination o a heating-chamber, a vessel containing molten glass within the chamber, a blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpipe, means for raising and lowering the pipe relatively to the vessel an air-coon pressor and means operated by the vertical movement of the blowpipe to displace from the compressor and force through the pipe a quantity of air proportional to the size of the glass cylinder being drawn.

4. In apoaratus for drawing glass the combination of a heating-chamber, a vessel containing molten glass within the chamber, a blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpi e, an air-compressor means for raising an lowering the pipe relatively to the vessel, means operated by the vertical movement of the blowpipe to displace from the compressor and force through the pipe a quantity of air proportional to the size of the glass cylinder being drawn and mechanicallyoperated means for removing the drawn cylinder.

5. In ap aratus for drawing glass the combination to a heating-chamber, a vessel containing molten glass within the chamber, a hlo'wpipe, meanfor rotating the vessel and the blowpipe, mean for raising and lowering the pipe relatively to the vessel means operated by the vertical movement of the blow ipe for forcing through the pipe a quantity of air proportional to the size of the glass cylinder being drawn, means for admitting supplementary air to the blowpipe and mechanicallyoperated means for removing the drawn cylinder.

6. in ap )aratus for drawing glass the combination of a heating-chamber, a vessel con- 'taining molten glass within the chamber, a

blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpipe, meansfor raising and lowering the pipe relatively to the vessel means for supplying air to the pipe, an opening in the heat nag-chamber above the vessel and a gradu ated cooling-chamber upon said opening having upwardly-directed annular orifices and meansfor forcing cooling-air through the ori fices to form cylinders outside the glass being drawn from the chamber l l l 1 l l l l sans-2e 7. in apparatus for drawing glass the com.-' bination of a heating chaniber, a vessel con taining molten glass within the chamber, a blowpipe, means for rotating the vessel and the blowpipe, means for raising and lowering the pipe relatively to the vesselmeans for supplying air to the pipe, an opening in the heat r ing-chamber above the vessel a graduated coolingchamber upon said opening having annular orifices, means for forcing cooling-air through the orifices and outside the glass being drawn from the chamber, an air-sup ly for the graduated cooling-chamber an a valve-controlled connection between said airsupply pipe and the blowpipe.

8. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heatingchamber, a vessel containing molten glass so supported. that the heating agent can ass under and. around it, a blowpipe, means or rotating the vessel and the blowpi e, means for raising and lowering the ipe re atively to the vessel, means operatct by the vertical movement of the blowpipe for forcing through the pi e a quantity of air roportional to the size 0 the glass cylinder being drawn an opening in the heatin chamber above the vessel, a graduated coo ing-chamber around said opening, means for supplying air to the graduated cooling-charm her and supplementary air to the blovpipe and me.chanically-operated means for removing the drawn cylinder In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heatingmhmnber, a vertical rotatable shaft projectin into the chamber, a disk on the top of the shaft, a vessel containing molten glass Within the chamber suppor ed on the disk by blocks of refractory material so that the heating agent can pass under and around it, means for rotating the shaft and means for removing molten glass from the vessel.

10. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heating-chamber, a vertical rotatable shaft projecting into the chamber, a disk on the top of the shaft, a vessel coutaining molten glass within the chamber supported on the disk by blocks of refractory material so thatthe heating agent can pass under and around it, means for rotating the shaft, a frame capable of vertical movement relatively to the vessel, a rotatable head mounted on the frame and adapted to receive a blowpipe, a centering-guide for the lower end of the blowpipe, and means for rotating the head and for supplying air thereto,

11. in apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heating-chamber, a vertical rotatable shaft projecting into the chamber, a disk on the top of the shaft, a vessel con taining molten glass within the chamber sup-- ported on the disk by blocks of refractory material so that the heating agent can pass under and around it, means for rotating the shaft, a frame capable of vertical movement ported on the disk by relatively to the vessel, a rotatable head mounted on the frame and adapted to receive a blowpipe, a centering-guide for the lower end of the blowpipe a vertical driving-shaft, worm and bevel gearing betwe'entlre drivingshaft and the vesselsup orting shaft and between the driving-sha t and the rotatable head whereby the vessel and blowpipe may be rotated at the same speed and means for supplying air to the blowpipe.

12. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heatingchamber, a vertical rotatable shaft projecting into the chamber, a disk on the to of the shaft, a vessel containing molten. glass within the chamber supported on the disk by blocks of refractory material so that the heating agent can pass underand around it, means for rotating the shaft, a frame capable of vertical movement relatively to the vessel, a rotatable head mounted on the frame and adapted to receive a blowpipe, a centeringguide for the lower end of the blowpipe, means for rotating the head, an air-compressor, a valve-controlled pipe between the air-compressor and the head operative connections between the vertically-movable frame and the valve.

13. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of a heating-chamber a vertical rotatable shaft projecting into the chamber, a disk on. the to of the shaft, a vessel containing molten glhss within the chamber supblocksef refractory material so that the heating agent can pass under and around it, means for rotating the shaft, a frame capable of vertical movement relatively to the vessel, a rotatable head mounted on the frame and adapted to receive a blowpipe, a centering-guide for the lower end of the blowpipe, means for rotating the head, an air-compressor, a valve-controlled 1pipe between the air-compressor and the ead, operative connections between the vertically-movable frame and the valve and a frame rovided with means for embracing the cy inder and rotatable upon a vertical and a horizontal axis.

14. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination/ of a heating-chamber, a vessel containing molten glass so supported that the heating agent can ass under and around it, a blowpipe, means or rotating the vessel and blowpi e, means for raising and lowering the pipe re atively to the vessel and for supplying .air thereto, an opening in the heating-chamber above the vessel, a graduated coolingchamber around said opening comprising an air-conduit means for su )plying air thereto, a plurality of upwardly irecteo annular erifices in the conduit whereby the air passes up in cylinders outside the glass being drawn from the chamber, and a coil of pipe and means for passing a cooling liquid through th coil.

lin testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

JOHN FORESTER.

Witnesses:

HERBERT MALTBY, WALTER J. SKERTEN, 

